New rules for Lake Elsinore opening day

LAKE ELSINORE -- Boaters looking to take advantage of the free
day-use lake passes offered by the city Saturday to mark the
opening day of the lake's busy season will need to have proper
safety equipment on board.

Rolling out new rules, city staff members will be asking boat
owners a series of questions regarding the safety equipment on
their vessels when they pick up their passes and before they launch
their boats.

If a boat owner does not have all the required equipment, the
city will have supplies on hand for sale.

Pat Kilroy, the city's director of lake and aquatic resources,
said the new rules were instituted to make sure boaters have life
jackets, throwable flotation devices, whistles or an air horn, a
flag, fire extinguisher and junior life jackets for any children 11
years or younger.

The day-use passes are being issued, Kilroy said, to give
boaters a chance to inspect their vessels.